Tokyo 2016 Day 8

Happy birthday to me in Tokyo, Japan! In the morning Mike and I attended Lisa's Zumba class at the embassy housing clubhouse. We didn't make it out of the house until about noon for our first sightseeing day in Tokyo, so our first stop was lunch at a gyosa place off Jinzu street near the Meiji shrine.
The only gyoza the boys had ever had before were from Costco, which they love. And these were so much better as the beans sprouts and veggies inside were so crisp and fresh and there was some very hot sauce in addition to the the teriyaki sauce to dip them in. We got six each for ¥2000, about $15. And we thought eating in Tokyo was going to be expensive! We are loving the exchange rate, which is ¥120 for one US dollar. Even a year ago it was more like ¥80 to one US dollar. So the strong US dollar is giving us a 40% discount!

Then we walked up the street to the Meiji shrine, which is one of the top 10 most visited spots in the world. It is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and his wife. He was a benevolent ruler who ushered Japan into the modern industrial age and died in 1912. In 1920 private funds built the shrine. It is common in Japan for prominent people to be deified or turned into Shinto Maki, similar to the Catholic Church turning people into saints. The Shinto religion is unique to Japan and is the national religion along with Buddhism. Most Japanese are both. They use Shinto rites to celebrate events associated with life like birth, the first wearing of a kimono, turning 20-years old, and weddings. Buddhist rites deal with death and the afterlife.

This torii gate, which marks the entry into the shrine, is a beautiful example of Shinto architecture, which is never painted or stained, but left bare wood, the emphasis always being on reflecting the beauty of nature.

The entire shrine was so lovely and peaceful, such a nice break from an intense city. It is the largest forest within the city of Tokyo.

These groups of youth carrying archery bags were all over the park. Clint said they reminded him of Hogwarts students going to Quidditch practice. This archery is a kind of martial art.

Next we went to Takashita Street in the Harajuku district. Trace said, "This is the Tokyo I was thinking of!"

The thing to do there, besides people watch, is to eat crepes. As with many things foreign, the Japanese take things like French crêpes and add steroids to it! There were 85 different ways to order these crepes. I got mixed berries and cream.

These cute Harajuku Little Bo Peeps we're happy to let me take their picture. The Japanese love all things kawaii-which means cute.

And aren't this delivery vehicle and Jack, kawaii?

When we got home we saw that Lisa had put up this banner. She's so good at making people feel loved.

Mike and Lisa took us to a seafood restaurant called Andy's for dinner. Then we went to Big Camera which is a massive department store, where we sat in the massage chairs talking for about an hour and a half. But we didn't feel bad because at least we were not asleep like several of the salary men there. When we got home Lisa had a cake for me, even though I had told her not to. I was trying to avoid sugar on my birthday because--it's my birthday I want to do what I want to do! But the crepes had weakened my resolve and I joined in.

This Tokyo trip was my birthday present and it has been a dream come true.